Report: West Ham consider making approach for Lucas Leiva

According to ESPN, West Ham are considering making an approach for Lucas Leiva of Liverpool, as they look for an alternate option to Alex Song.

Song spent last season on loan with the Hammers, impressing in the midfield positions, before returning to Barcelona this summer. It was expected that he would agree a permanent move to the Boleyn Ground, but a deal has yet to be finalised, and an injury could scupper any transfer before the window closes at the end of this month.

Highly rated youngster Reece Oxford was used in defensive midfield in West Ham’s victory over Arsenal at the weekend, but head coach Slaven Bilic wants to bring in a more experienced holding player for the Premier League season.

This has caused the East London club to look towards Lucas Leiva, the Brazilian midfielder whose future is not certain at Anfield.

He was left out of the matchday squad for Liverpool’s opening victory over Stoke City, and with the arrivals of a host of new players, it is likely Brendan Rodgers may consider allowing him to leave.

He still has two years left on his contract at the Merseyside club, but his potential availability on the market has opened up the chances of a transfer. The report states that the Hammers are monitoring his future should be become available, and should a move for Song not materialise.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.